Coral reefs, cloud forests and radical climate interventions in Australia’s Wet Tropics and Great Barrier Reef

A groundbreaking study identifies synergies and risks among four radical climate interventions—adaptation, solar geoengineering, forestry and ecosystem restoration, and carbon removal—to protect Australia’s Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area and the Great Barrier Reef. The research reveals that while these approaches can be coupled to enhance climate resilience, they also present complex trade-offs and multi-scalar effects. Conducted through 23 expert interviews and site visits, the study challenges conventional categorizations of climate action and offers lessons for global communities facing similar challenges.

Sovacool, B. K., Baum, C. M., Low, S., & Fritz, L. (2023). Coral reefs, cloud forests and radical climate interventions in Australia’s Wet Tropics and Great Barrier Reef. PLOS Climate, 2(10), e0000221. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000221